מָה (mah)
mah
what?
H:IntgQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 580 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:Intg
Word Overview
The Hebrew word mah is a versatile interrogative pronoun that primarily means "what?" but extends to cover questions of manner, reason, and quantity. It appears nearly six hundred times in the Old Testament, serving as a fundamental tool for inquiry across diverse contexts. Whether asking about an object's identity or probing the cause behind an event, this term anchors the speaker’s search for understanding.
Its usage ranges from direct questions, such as God asking Cain "What have you done?" in Genesis 4:10, to rhetorical exclamations of surprise or distress. In Job 7:19, the phrase "how long?" demonstrates its adverbial capacity to question duration and patience. The word also combines with prepositions to form complex queries like "by what means" or "for what reason," allowing for precise theological and narrative exploration.
Translators often render mah as "what," "why," or "how" depending on the surrounding grammar. This flexibility reflects its role as a primitive particle that captures the full spectrum of human curiosity. From simple identification to deep existential questioning, mah provides the linguistic framework for seeking answers in Scripture.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word mah appears nearly six hundred times in the Old Testament, anchoring our search for understanding. It serves as a fundamental tool for inquiry across diverse contexts. From asking about an object's identity to probing the cause behind an event, this term captures the full spectrum of human curiosity.
Its usage ranges from direct questions to rhetorical exclamations of surprise or distress. In Genesis 4:10, God asks Cain, “What have you done?” This simple question anchors the narrative in accountability and truth. It reminds us that honesty before God is always the starting point for restoration.
This flexibility reflects its role as a primitive particle that allows for precise theological exploration. Whether asking about manner, reason, or quantity, mah provides the linguistic framework for seeking answers. We can bring our deepest questions to Scripture with confidence, knowing that inquiry is part of faithful living.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 580 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- what?335×
- <to>/ why?127×
- and/ what?62×
- and/ <to>/ why?27×
- how!24×
- <in>/ how?19×
- why?16×
- whatever14×
- how/ many?6×
- and/ why?6×
- and/ <in>/ how?5×
- when?3×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מַה\־196×
- וּ/מַה\־36×
- מָֽה\־27×
- לָ֥/מָּה27×
- מָ֣ה23×
- לָ֤/מָּה23×
- מָ֥ה22×
- לָ֣/מָּה20×
- מֶ֣ה18×
- מַֽה\־17×
- מָה\־12×
- מֶה\־10×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 4:10
Yahweh said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries to me from the ground.
God uses this word to confront Cain about his brother's blood, anchoring the narrative in accountability.
-
Genesis 25:22
The children struggled together within her. She said, “If it is like this, why do I live?” She went to inquire of Yahweh.
Hagar asks why she lives when her children struggle, showing how this term expresses deep existential distress.
-
Genesis 15:8
He said, “Lord Yahweh, how will I know that I will inherit it?”
Abram asks how he will know about his inheritance, demonstrating the word's use in seeking divine assurance.
-
Genesis 27:37
Isaac answered Esau, “Behold, I have made him your lord, and all his brothers I have given to him for servants. I have sustained him with grain and new wine. What then will I do for you, my son?”
Isaac uses this question to express his inability to reverse the blessing, highlighting human limitation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does mah mean in the Old Testament?
How many times does mah appear in the Bible?
Why is mah important for understanding biblical questions?
Every Occurrence (580 verses across 35 books)
Genesis 54 verses
Out of the ground Yahweh God formed every animal of the field, and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man…
Genesis 3:13Yahweh God said to the woman, “What have you done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
Genesis 4:6Yahweh said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why has the expression of your face fallen?
Genesis 4:10Yahweh said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries to me from the ground.
Genesis 12:18Pharaoh called Abram and said, “What is this that you have done to me? Why didn’t you tell me that she was your wife?
Genesis 12:19Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her to be my wife? Now therefore, see your wife, take her, and go…
Genesis 15:2Abram said, “Lord Yahweh, what will you give me, since I go childless, and he who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of…
Genesis 15:8He said, “Lord Yahweh, how will I know that I will inherit it?”
Genesis 18:13Yahweh said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Will I really bear a child when I am old?’
Genesis 20:9Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said to him, “What have you done to us? How have I sinned against you, that you have…
Genesis 20:10Abimelech said to Abraham, “What did you see, that you have done this thing?”
Genesis 21:17God heard the voice of the boy. The angel of God called to Hagar out of the sky, and said to her, “What troubles you,…
Genesis 21:29Abimelech said to Abraham, “What do these seven ewe lambs, which you have set by themselves, mean?”
Genesis 23:15“My lord, listen to me. What is a piece of land worth four hundred shekels of silver between me and you? Therefore bury…
Genesis 24:31He said, “Come in, you blessed of Yahweh. Why do you stand outside? For I have prepared the house, and room for the…
Genesis 25:22The children struggled together within her. She said, “If it is like this, why do I live?” She went to inquire of…
Genesis 25:32Esau said, “Behold, I am about to die. What good is the birthright to me?”
Genesis 26:10Abimelech said, “What is this you have done to us? One of the people might easily have lain with your wife, and you…
Genesis 27:20Isaac said to his son, “How is it that you have found it so quickly, my son?” He said, “Because Yahweh your God gave me…
Genesis 27:37Isaac answered Esau, “Behold, I have made him your lord, and all his brothers I have given to him for servants. I have…
Genesis 27:45until your brother’s anger turns away from you, and he forgets what you have done to him. Then I will send, and get you…
Genesis 27:46Rebekah said to Isaac, “I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth. If Jacob takes a wife of the daughters…
Genesis 28:17He was afraid, and said, “How awesome this place is! This is none other than God’s house, and this is the gate of…
Genesis 29:15Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my relative, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what will your…
Genesis 29:25In the morning, behold, it was Leah! He said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Didn’t I serve with you for…
Genesis 30:31Laban said, “What shall I give you?” Jacob said, “You shall not give me anything. If you will do this thing for me, I…
Genesis 31:26Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done, that you have deceived me, and carried away my daughters like captives of the…
Genesis 31:27Why did you flee secretly, and deceive me, and didn’t tell me, that I might have sent you away with mirth and with…
Genesis 31:30Now, you want to be gone, because you greatly longed for your father’s house, but why have you stolen my gods?”
Genesis 31:32Anyone you find your gods with shall not live. Before our relatives, discern what is yours with me, and take it.” For…
Genesis 31:36Jacob was angry, and argued with Laban. Jacob answered Laban, “What is my trespass? What is my sin, that you have hotly…
Genesis 31:37Now that you have felt around in all my stuff, what have you found of all your household stuff? Set it here before my…
Genesis 31:43Laban answered Jacob, “The daughters are my daughters, the children are my children, the flocks are my flocks, and all…
Genesis 33:15Esau said, “Let me now leave with you some of the people who are with me.” He said, “Why? Let me find favor in the…
Genesis 37:10He told it to his father and to his brothers. His father rebuked him, and said to him, “What is this dream that you…
Genesis 37:15A certain man found him, and behold, he was wandering in the field. The man asked him, “What are you looking for?”
Genesis 37:20Come now therefore, and let’s kill him, and cast him into one of the pits, and we will say, ‘An evil animal has…
Genesis 37:26Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood?
Genesis 38:16He turned to her by the way, and said, “Please come, let me come in to you,” for he didn’t know that she was his…
Genesis 38:18He said, “What pledge will I give you?” She said, “Your signet and your cord, and your staff that is in your hand.” He…
Genesis 38:29As he drew back his hand, behold, his brother came out, and she said, “Why have you made a breach for yourself?”…
Genesis 39:8But he refused, and said to his master’s wife, “Behold, my master doesn’t know what is with me in the house, and he has…
Genesis 42:1Now Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, and Jacob said to his sons, “Why do you look at one another?”
Genesis 42:28He said to his brothers, “My money is restored! Behold, it is in my sack!” Their hearts failed them, and they turned…
Genesis 43:6Israel said, “Why did you treat me so badly, telling the man that you had another brother?”
Genesis 44:4When they had gone out of the city, and were not yet far off, Joseph said to his steward, “Up, follow after the men.…
Genesis 44:7They said to him, “Why does my lord speak such words as these? Far be it from your servants that they should do such a…
Genesis 44:15Joseph said to them, “What deed is this that you have done? Don’t you know that such a man as I can indeed do…
Genesis 44:16Judah said, “What will we tell my lord? What will we speak? How will we clear ourselves? God has found out the iniquity…
Genesis 46:33It will happen, when Pharaoh summons you, and will say, ‘What is your occupation?’
Genesis 47:3Pharaoh said to his brothers, “What is your occupation?” They said to Pharaoh, “Your servants are shepherds, both we,…
Genesis 47:8Pharaoh said to Jacob, “How old are you?”
Genesis 47:15When the money was all spent in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came to Joseph, and…
Genesis 47:19Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be…